Post of the Day
The most important question in the world right now is whether a capitalist society like the United States, and a capitalist international order like the one we all live in, is capable of reducing our emissions enough to sustain life
Today’s Celebration
Constitution Day in South Korea
King’s Birthday in Lesotho
Independence Day in Slovakia
Beginning of Vassa (Buddhist Lent) – Buddhism
World Day of International Justice
Climate Change
July on course to be hottest month ever, say climate scientists
If global trends continue for another fortnight, it will beat previous two-year-old record
Chaos theory produces map for predicting paths of particles emitted into the atmosphere
Floating air particles following disasters and other geological events can have a lasting impact on life on Earth, and a new model drawing on chaos theory looks to help predict how these particles move, with an eye toward applications for geoengineering. Scientists have developed a model for following particles as they travel around the globe. Using it, she has generated maps that can be used to predict how particles will be dispersed above the world.
The most important question in the world right now is whether a capitalist society like the United States, and a capitalist international order like the one we all live in, is capable of reducing our emissions enough to sustain life.
Climate change will kill us with heat if nothing is done to fix it, study says
If no action is taken to address climate change, broad swaths of the United States will see extreme heat conditions measured in weeks or months rather than days by the middle of the century, the study found.
Want to inspire more people to act on climate change? Broaden the framing
“It has never happened before,” is a sentence that is becoming excessively common in the news due to a changing climate where new extremes are becoming normal.
National
Young climate activists ‘most at risk’ of being spied on by AFP
Children and young adults who go to protests are the most likely Australians to have their phones tracked and monitored by police, a prominent security analyst has warned in a submission to an inquiry cybersecurity laws.
What if the Federation drought happened today?
A CSIRO reconstruction of the Federation drought of 1891 to 1903 finds that if it were to occur again today, its effects would likely be even more devastating.
Leap of faith to electrified mining ‘must start in the boardroom’: report
As focus on greenhouse gas emissions grows, more miners are seriously considering electrified mines, but a leap of faith is necessary before a boardroom will give it the tick of approval.
Dams to drought-proof town water supplies
Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack believes new dams and weirs could help boost dwindling domestic water supply in the future.
Shell chief executive Ben van Beurden has called on Scott Morrison to work with his company on a carbon scheme.
Forestry industry keen for greater protection against activists [$]
The agricultural sector has dominated headlines with activist issues in recent years, but the forestry industry is also hoping for greater protection from the Federal Government’s Criminal Code Amendment (Agricultural Protection) Bill.
Where have all the sparrows gone?
The dwindling number of sparrows seen in Australian backyards — and around the world — is considered by some to be one of the great natural mysteries of recent times.
How climate change is affecting what we grow and eat
Farmers and scientists across the country are finding new ways to keep food on the table, as climate change moves rainfall patterns and increases heatwaves, droughts and floods.
Australia leads global energy disruption, but is it “smart” enough to stay in front?
Morgan Stanley says global transition to a new energy world is gaining momentum, driven by savvy consumers and increasingly cheaper and smarter technology. But can Australia keep up?
Australian ants prepared for ‘Insect Armageddon’
Researchers have uncovered an exception to the global phenomenon known as ‘Insect Armageddon’ in the largest study of Australian insect populations conducted to date.
The idea of producing nuclear energy in Australia before 2040 is absurd
John Quiggin
There is no chance of deploying it in the required timeframe. Fortunately, there are alternatives
If shark finning is illegal, how come Australia is still part of the shark fin trade?
Leonardo Guida
One of the most common questions I get asked about sharks isn’t how awesome they are (how can you not love something that’s been swimming in the oceans for 450 million years!?) or how many shark and ray species we have in Australia (the answer is 322).
Australia’s Orwellian anti-refugee system hints at what’s to come for climate refugees
Jeff Sparrow
They might be the victims but, as international law now stands, climate refugees are not entitled to anything
Wind and solar cut rather than lift wholesale electricity prices
Zsuzsanna Csereklyei
It’s gas, not wind, that’s pushing up Australia’s electricity prices.
Energy is a security issue too
Nicholas Stuart
There are three things to know about Angus Taylor. The first is, he’s clever.
Meet the endangered Bunyip bird living in Australia’s rice paddies
Matt Herring et al
The endangered Australasian bittern offers a way past the ‘farmers vs environmentalist’ debate in the Murray-Darling basin.
Regional cities beware – fast rail might lead to disadvantaged dormitories, not booming economies
Todd Denham and Jago Dodson
While governments focus on how to ease congestion and make affordable housing more accessible for workers in our biggest cities, fast rail could be a mixed blessing for regional cities.
Graham Richardson
The affair with renewables will end in tears the moment punters see energy prices head north.
Biggest losers of ALP loss [$]
Judith Sloan
Angus Taylor has his task cut out injecting greater rationality into the energy sector.
It’s cool to see Barrier Reef in VR, terrible if that was the only way [$]
Kara Jung
We can ban single-use plastics in SA, but if our governments are failing to take action on carbon emissions, what’s the point
The great gas market myth exposed [$]
Matthew Stevens
In the face of political pressure and weak spot prices, Qld LNG exporters are pumping uncontracted gas back into domestic markets.
Victoria
Victoria to spend $600m to strip flammable cladding from hundreds of buildings
Hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars will be spent to deal with the flammable cladding crisis in Victoria, where about 500 buildings need rectification work to be made safe.
New South Wales
Lower house inquiry to set ‘responsible road map’ out of coal for NSW
Plotting NSW’s inevitable transition away from coal will be the subject of a parliamentary inquiry, including how the state can make the most of renewable energy supplies.
Fears ‘drip fed’ Snowy 2.0 plans hide full environmental impact
The “drip feed” approach to the approval process of Snowy 2.0 projects is hiding the development’s full environmental impact, a conservationist has warned.
Berejiklian must step up and fix the building safety crisis
SMH editorial
The whole system of consumer protection needs a rethink and cash must be found for the unlucky people who bought apartments that were built under the old rules.
ACT
Federal government to consider environmental and heritage impact of light rail
Up to six critically endangered golden sun moth populations could be affected by the second stage of light rail, government documents reveal.
Queensland
Queensland Government prosecuting Adani over ‘misleading information’
Mining giant Adani is being accused of providing false information to Queensland’s environment department over land clearing at the site of its proposed Carmichael mine.
‘Our scientists just want to do their job’: CSIRO concerned Adani is alleging bias
Emails obtained under freedom of information reveal Adani demanded the names of all federal agency scientists reviewing its contentious groundwater plans so it could check if they were “anti-coal” activists.
Brisbane business leads way on waste and recycling innovation
A coffee cup recycling programme was launched today at Howard Smith Wharves by the Assistant Minister for Waste Reduction and Environmental Management, Trevor Evans MP, highlighting the importance of industry-led initiatives to reduce waste and improve recycling.
Adani justified in demanding names of CSIRO scientists, deputy PM says
Mining company said it wanted ‘peace of mind’ that groundwater review would not be ‘hijacked’ by anti-coal activists
Charging electric cars in Queensland will be ‘half the cost of petrol’
Drivers of electric cars in Queensland will pay 45¢ per kilowatt hour at most to charge their vehicles, about half the cost of fuelling up with petrol.
South Australia
Give us a bigger stick, energy regulator says [$]
The cop on the beat keeping electricity companies honest was promised a bigger stick back in 2017. It’s still waiting for delivery.
Chief scientist in SA to investigate Bight concerns [$]
South Australian organisations will have the chance to raise their concerns about drilling in the Great Australian Bight with the nation’s chief scientist.
100 nature lovers needed for park volunteer program [$]
The Environment Department is looking for 100 volunteer rangers to help look after the state’s national parks and connect visitors with nature.
Funding windfall for Ping Monitor windfarm listening device
Australian startup that has developed world-first acoustic listening device for monitoring the health of wind turbines has raised AU$850,000 to support commercialisation.
Slaughtering koalas — the Liberal Party way
Sue Arnold
The South Australian Liberal Government is proposing to “cull” koalas and other threatened native species.
Tasmania
Bob Brown calls for ‘moderation’ on renewable energy proposals
Former Greens leader Bob Brown has defended his stance against a wind farm proposed for Tasmania’s north west.
Northern Territory
Uluru climb closure won’t hurt visitor numbers: Parks Australia
Closing the climb at Uluru will not have a dramatic effect on tourist numbers, according to Parks Australia.
Uluru is nothing like Bondi Beach. It’s sacred [$]
Tory Shepherd
When it comes to climbing Uluru, only the wilfully ignorant and blatantly disrespectful would ignore the significance of someone else’s sacred site all for the promise of an Instagram selfie.
Western Australia
Leaking dam delays lithium mine expansion [$]
A leaking tailings dam has delayed commissioning of the next stage of the $600m Wodgina lithium mine in Western Australia.
ClearVue boosts solar glass plans with Taiwan manufacturing deal
Perth-based company inks deal to produce key component of transparent solar glass technology in established PV factory in Taiwan.
Sustainability
Jobs: Distributed renewable energy sector to create 400,000 jobs in India
The census provides comprehensive data on energy access jobs created by decentralized renewable energy including solar for home and business, green mini-grids and productive use systems such as solar water pumps
This is the new dumping ground for the world’s high-tech trash
Recycling your electronics might get old tech goods out of your home. But on the fringes of Bangkok, villagers say the western world’s e-waste is destroying their lives.
Society heading towards ‘net energy cliff’ without rapid shift to renewables
New research blows away myth of “energy returned on investment” and says wind and solar will soon offer a better EROI than fossil fuels.
Electric vehicles will play crucial storage role in renewables grid
New report says electric vehicles vital for a renewables-based and decarbonised grid in Great Britain, with vehicle-to-grid charging playing a critical role for flexibility.
By cutting ozone pollution now, China could save 330,000 lives by 2050
If China takes strong measures to reduce its ozone pollution now, it could save hundreds of thousands of lives in the long run, according to a new study.
Black plastics could create renewable energy
New research could help to reduce plastic waste in the future
Comprehensive review of the future of CRISPR technology in crops
CRISPR is thought of as ‘molecular scissors’ used to cut and edit DNA, but researchers are now looking far beyond these applications. In a new comprehensive review, they explore the current state of CRISPR in crops, and how scientists can enhance traditional breeding techniques in nontraditional ways to a growing population in the face of climate change, diseases, and pests.
Curbing indoor air pollution in India
Clean cooking energy transitions are extremely challenging to achieve, but they offer enormous potential health, environmental, and societal benefits. A study provides new insights about an Indian program that aims to solve one of the most difficult developmental challenges of the 21st century — smoky kitchens.
True cost of cheap food is health and climate crises, says commission
The true cost of cheap, unhealthy food is a spiralling public health crisis and environmental destruction, according to a high-level commission.
Are bioplastics better for the environment than other plastics?
Many people assume all bioplastics are made from plants and can break down completely in the environment. But that’s not the case.
Plastic bag bans around the world: Who’s leading the way?
Plastic bag bans are sweeping the globe. But it’s too soon to tell how effective they are keeping single use plastic out of landfills and the ocean.
Flood prediction model developed
The duration of floods can be determined by river flow, precipitation and atmospheric blocking. Now an international team of researchers is offering a novel physically based Bayesian network model for inference and prediction of flood duration. The model also accurately examines the timescales of flooding.
Nature Conservation
‘Fishyleaks’ website hopes to land those guilty of overfishing
Charity accuses government agencies of ignoring ‘rampant’ rule-breaking in EU waters, and encourages whistleblowers
Joshua Trees Facing Extinction
They outlived mammoths and saber-toothed tigers. But without dramatic action to reduce climate change, new research shows Joshua trees won’t survive much past …
Humans may be accidentally geoengineering the oceans
Iron particles released by industrial activities are falling into the seas in greater quantities than previously thought
New species of tree discovered in Tanzania mountains
Researchers have discovered a new species of tree in the Usambara Mountains in Tanzania, part of the Eastern Arc Mountains, and a globally important region for species in need of conservation.
Private land conservation research underrepresents geographical regions and stakeholders
Biodiversity loss is one of the most prominent global issues, also affecting human well-being. With privately owned land covering large areas of the world, private land conservation is an increasingly recognized strategy to address the biodiversity crisis and support human well-being. A new study assessed 30 years of published scientific literature in order to identify research gaps and mainstream future private land conservation research.
Corporations still aren’t doing enough to stop deforestation
Even as they tout their sustainability credentials, the majority of corporations still aren’t transparent about the deforestation in their supply chains.
Lights out! Clownfish can only hatch in the dark – which light pollution is taking away
Emily Fobert
Some 22% of the worlds’ coastlines are exposed to artificial light at night. Emily Fobert, Author provided
Now for something completely different …
S.African music legend Johnny Clegg dies
South African musician Johnny Clegg has died at his family home in Johannesburg after battling pancreatic cancer, his record label says.
Scatterlings of Africa by Johnny Clegg and Savuka
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